Travel to Israel does call for an informed and disciplined mindfulness of safety and security.  We have more than fifteen years of combined experience traveling in this region.   A very similar trip we took students on over interim in 2006 was a great success.  You can read the comments of a few of the students regarding safety below. 

On the basis of our experience, and in consultation with agents both here in the US and in the Middle East, the itinerary has been designed to preserve and protect the safety and security of our students.  Students and their parents who would like to be apprised of the details of security arrangements are invited to contact Prof. McCane 864-597-4562; mccanebr@wofford.edu) for a comprehensive explanation. 

 Despite the impression created by television news reports, travel to Israel is no more dangerous than travel to New York City.  If, for instance, a visitor to NYC does not know his or her way around, it is possible for that visitor to get into big trouble in a big hurry.  An experienced traveler, by contrast, can spend a great deal of time in NYC without ever being in any danger whatsoever, having a great time all the while.  This interim has been designed by experienced travelers, and the itinerary is mindful of safety and security from start to finish.   

 QUESTION:  Did you feel unsafe at any time during the trip?

I did not feel unsafe at any point during the interim trip.  The hotels where we stayed and places we visited were not large flashy westernized tourist traps that might be targets of terrorist groups.  Our nights were spent in the same hotels where Israelis and Palestinians visiting these cities might spend their nights.  We were immersed in the culture; eating at the same restaurants, shopping at the same stores, and visiting the same sites.  I actually had a sense of security knowing that I was on this trip with professors from Wofford College who had experience studying and visiting this region. -Liz O'Quinn

Honestly, I never felt unsafe before or during the trip. However, there were a few times I was surprised or caught off-guard. For example, after we crossed into Jordan, someone checked under our bus. A few of us commented that he was probably checking for a bomb. The bus was fine, and I never gave it a second thought. Otherwise, we followed basic guidelines like never going out alone and avoiding standing at crowded bus stops. It is a different environment to see soldiers with machine guns at local restaurants, for example, but not one where I felt threatened. -Maggie Sanders Lewis

There was no point that I felt unsafe. Occassionally, I would feel uneasy, but then remembered how great our professors were, how much experience they had with the area, and knew they would never put us in a dangerous situation.- Erin Blanton Metcalf